Carine Van Regenmortel named Managing Partner of the Year at the fifth edition of the Belgian Legal Awards.

Lawyers from Carey Olsen’s corporate and finance groups in Guernsey and London have contributed a chapter to the newly-published book Private Equity 2010.

A breakfast seminar hosted by Carey Olsen on Tuesday attracted more than 160 professionals in Guernsey.

The Channel Islands' legal firm Carey Olsen jumped three places to fifth place in this year's annual survey of the top 20 law firms operating in offshore jurisdictions, by the leading legal magazine The Lawyer. Carey Olsen was also the highest placed of law firms concentrating solely on the Channel Islands.

Penningtons Solicitors LLP is delighted to be taking a leading role in Capital Careers 2010, an initiative organised by the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry to increase careers awareness among young Londoners as part of its London Young Chamber programme.

Philip Barth, partner and head of the immigration team at Penningtons Solicitors LLP, has successfully negotiated the reinstatement of the sponsor licence of a private college in the education sector.

Vladimir Penkov, Managing Partner of “Penkov, Markov & Partners” participated in the roundtable “Economy and Politics”

Paris, le 8 mars 2010. Le cabinet Sarrau Thomas Couderc a accompagné les fonds d’investissement 3i et NI Partners dans le cadre de leur prise de contrôle du groupe Vedici, réseau de cliniques privées.

Dufry AG combines with Dufry South America Ltd. in a cross-border trian-gular merger with a secondary listing on BM

AstapovLawyers represents Joint Stock Company "Dniepropetrovsk Tube Works", who is one of the leading, largest and well recognized tube producers in Ukraine in an anti-dumping investigation commenced by the Ministry of Economy of Russian Federation. The Works is equipped with modern automated and mechanised tube mills for producing pipes by the means of its control and produces more than 3000 type sizes of tubes from carbon and non-alloy steel grade.

AstapovLawyers as well as Mr. Oleh Malskyy were named in Top-3 among law firms and leading individuals in Foreign Trade Practice by Handbook for Foreign Clients 2010 - a distinctive publication on Ukrainian legal market recently published by Yuridicheskaya Practika Publishing House.

AstapovLawyers as well as Mr. Andrey Astapov were named as Top-3 among law firms and leading individuals in International Arbitration Practice by Handbook for Foreign Clients 2010 - a distinctive publication on Ukrainian legal market recently published by Yuridicheskaya Practika Publishing House.

AstapovLawyers successfully completed a complex mediation in a labor dispute between one of the largest foreign pharmaceutical companies with its top manager in Ukraine.

AstapovLawyers is an official general sponsor of the Third CIS-EU Legal Forum "EuroLawyer 2010" held on 15-16 April 2010 in London and organized by Eurobusiness Advisory Company (London, UK). This years forum's theme is: "State and Business: joint development perspectives".

On February 15-17, 2010 AstapovLawyers' Partners Mr. Astapov and Mr. Malskyy took part in the most reputable event on Global Energy Sector - International Petroleum Week 2010 in London organized by Energy Institute (London, UK).

On February 24-27, 2010 AstapovLawyers' Managing Partner Mr. Andrey Astapov spoke on the First International Grain Conference: Asia-Russia 2010 in Singapore. The conference was organized by Russian Grain Union jointly with Ministry of Agriculture of Russian Federation and global leading group of companies Sojitz Corporation. This conference was a result of an instruction made by Mr. Dmitry Medvedev, the President of Russian Federation, on geographic expansion of Russian grain import activities and incorporation of Far East export corridor.

March 2010, Kyiv. Executive Director of INTEGRITES international law firm, Elena Malevanaya, presented a report on "Trade Finance" at a "Financier" club representatives` meeting.

24 March 2010 – Kinstellar, Emerging Europe’s leading independent law firm today announces the opening of its new office in Belgrade, Serbia and the appointment of Branislav Marić as Partner.

This spring we are recruting several lawyers to our ITC/IP, Corporate, Employment, Competition law and Tax departments. We recently welcomed:

During the initial part of 2010 PLC Which Lawyer? ranks eight Delphi lawyers as leading in Sweden within nine practice areas.

The firm is pleased to announce the admission of Lee Lin Li as a new Partner of the firm for 2010.

The Austrian law firm of the year, CHSH, took a lead role as sole legal adviser to Wienerburger on the firm’s capital increase. This innovative deal saw subscription rights offered to Austrian shareholders, with an unusual backstop agreement with the Libyan Investment Authority. There was also an international private placement.

On March 15, 2010, Hindustan Construction Company Ltd (HCC), a leading In-dian business group with an established presence in Construction, Infrastructure Development and Urban Development & Management, announced it had agreed to acquire a 66% controlling stake in Karl Steiner AG (KSAG), the second largest total services contractor in the Swiss Real Estate market. HCC will acquire the 66% stake via the issuance of new shares in consideration for a CHF 35 million cash investment in KSAG. KSAG’s sole owner Peter Steiner will sell his remain-ing shares to HCC in 2014.

I have spent the last few months working on the forthcoming second edition of my book “Protected Cell Companies: a guide to their implementation and use” (co-authored with Grant Jones, a Special Professor of Law at Nottingham University).

March 11, 2010. BioXell S.p.A. announced the closing of the public tender offer by Cosmo Pharmaceuticals S.p.A. for all the shares of BioXell for a mixed consideration in cash and new Cosmo shares, as well as options to put the Cosmo shares, as well as a supplement consideration. The transaction is valued at approximately CHF 42 million. Cosmo and BioXell are both Italian companies, listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange.

On 5 March 2010, EVENTIM CH AG, a subsidiary of the German CTS EVENTIM AG has purchased Ticketcorner Holding AG from Capvis General Partners II Ltd. and other sellers (including a subsidiary of the Kudelski group).

Andra Musatescu, Ph.D, L.L.M.(Durham, U.K.), L.L.B., Attorney-at-Law, Industrial Property (Trade Mark, Patent, Industrial Design) Attorney, European Trade Mark and Design Attorney, speaker on behalf of International Trademark Association (INTA) at the Romanian State Office for Inventions and Trademarks (OSIM) seminar: "Intellectual Property, business potential. Sector guidelines for intellectual property".

Ţuca Zbârcea & Asociaţii posted a significant rise in gross revenues from 18.5 million Euros in 2008 to 22.7 million Euros in 2009.

The figures do not include the income generated by its secondary office in Cluj-Napoca and neither the revenues obtained by the firm’s separate units of insolvency and intellectual property. Also, the figures do not include the amounts collected by Ţuca Zbârcea & Asociaţii on behalf of various project partners in its capacity as consortium leader, those amounts being paid to the respective partners.

According to the firm`s officials, approximately 85% from the reported gross revenues came from the private sector; the profit rate stood at a healthy 58%.

KUKA AG has reached an agreement with its lending banks on extending the debt financing within the scope of KUKA's restructuring.

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On March 8, 2010, The Bank of New York Mellon announced that it has agreed to acquire BHF Asset Servicing GmbH (BAS) from BHF-BANK Aktiengesellschaft and Sal. Oppenheim jr. & Cie. S.C.A. for EUR 253 million, subject to regulatory approvals.

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Kim & Chang is pleased to announce a distinguished group of new partners and senior counsel. They exemplify the legal excellence and the high level of client service that distinguishes our firm in the marketplace. They will add to the success of their respective practices and contribute to our clients’ success.

Our new partners and senior counsel illustrate the firm’s continued wide-ranging growth in key practice areas. 

Kim & Chang has a growing list of honors for its representation of clients across the globe, as well as for excellence in the legal profession.

Kim & Chang’s recent honors recognize many of its 700 professionals and practice groups.

Hengeler Mueller has advised Landesbank Berlin AG (LBB) on the amendment to the act on the LBS Norddeutsche Landesbausparkasse Berlin-Hannover ("LBS-Nord-Gesetz"), a regional public building society.

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Hengeler Mueller advises Highstreet real estate joint venture in connection with landmark financial restructuring

 The "Highstreet" entities, owners of a portfolio of about 90 department stores let to insolvent German retailer Karstadt, have successfully restructured their financial debt obligations.

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At Kim & Chang, we offer unrivaled expertise on all aspects of public and private M&A transactions in Korea . Our Mergers & Acquisitions Practice Group is widely recognized in Korea and throughout Asia as the best of its kind, and our preeminence in this practice area has been recognized over the years through the quality of our deals. The following is a summary of the firm’s recent engagements in 2009. 

KF Fastigheter has acquired parts of the trade area Mobilia in Lund, and will together with Arne Paulssons Byggnads AB develop the area, including i.a. a Coop supermarket. KF Fastigheter has in connection herewith sold a larger property in central Lund to Paulssons. Mannheimer Swartling advised KF Fastigheter.

Mannheimer Swartling has advised the owners in the sale of Kaul GmbH and UK-affiliate, Capol UK Ltd., to The Riverside Company.

Mannheimer Swartling has advised Proventus in connection with the establishment of Proventus Capital Partners – a co-investment vehicle focusing on corporate loans and corporate bonds. The investment strategy for this vehicle also allows direct loans to companies and the ambition is to contribute with financing to mid-sized companies in need of capital for growth or restructuring when these companies are unable to secure traditional bank financing.

Protego Real Estate Investors has been advised by Mannheimer Swartling on the sale of twelve retail properties situated throughout Sweden for a total value of approximately SEK 210 million.

Mannheimer Swartling has advised the Teracom Group in the divestiture of its subsidiary Comet Networks to CSIT. Comet Networks operates the Group's broadband business, currently reaching more than 650,000 households and 80,000 businesses in approximately 50 municipalities in Sweden.

Mannheimer Swartling has advised Södra Timber in connection with its acquisition of Ittur Prefab Industrier AB, the parent company of the Trivselhus Group, one of Sweden’s leading producers of prefabricated homes. Closing is expected to take place on 1 October 2009. The transaction is subject to inter alia competition clearance.

Mannheimer Swartling has assisted Varian Medical Systems in entering into agreements for delivery of a proton therapy system to Skandionkliniken. The agreements include supply of an estimated USD 60 million in products. Varian Medical Systems will also have a five year service agreement valued at approximately USD 25 million. Skandionkliniken is the first clinical centre for proton therapy in Scandinavia and will have a capacity of treating 1,000 – 2,500 cancer patients per year. Varian Medical Systems is the world’s leading manufacturer of medical devices and software for treating cancer.

Mannheimer Swartling has advised Wallhamn AB on matters related to gaining approval for expansion of the port’s fairway to facilitate access for larger cargo ships. The port, owned by the Italian-based Grimaldi Group, is used for RoRo cargo, mainly in relation to the import and export of vehicles. The matter involved negotiations and permitting approval from, among others, the Swedish Transport Agency as well as other authorities and concerned parties. The firm recently also advised the Grimaldi Group on its acquisition of 50 per cent of port Wallhamn from EUKOR Car Carriers Inc, making the Grimaldi Group the sole owner of port Wallhamn.

Mannheimer Swartling has advised Stena Bulk AB in its new joint venture with Japanese shipping company Asahi Tankers. The joint venture company, Asahi Stena Tankers, will be owned 50/50 by the parties and will invest in tonnage of varying sizes, initially focusing on Suezmax tankers for global transportation of crude oil.

Mannheimer Swartling has advised Skandia Liv on an agreement with DnB NOR to manage a portfolio of assets valued at approximately SEK 80 billion. The agreement replaces a previous asset management agreement between the parties and covers DnB NOR’s continued management of a portfolio of Swedish shares and interest and includes a number of special mandates, amongst others in tactical allocation and advice on “socially responsible investing.”

Mannheimer Swartling has advised Morphic Technologies on the divestiture of ScanWind to GE Energy. ScanWind is a Norwegian-Swedish developer and supplier of wind-turbines and services for the coastal onshore and offshore market. The value of the transaction is SEK 130 million and is expected to be completed early September.

Loan agreements were signed on 1 July 2009 between Iceland and Denmark, Finland and Sweden respectively, and between Seðlabanki Íslands, guaranteed by Iceland and Norges Bank, guaranteed by Norway. Under the agreements the Nordic lenders have agreed to provide Iceland with total credits of ca. EUR 1.8 billion. The loans will be provided in relation to and as a support of Iceland’s economic stabilisation and reform programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The loans are intended to strengthen Iceland’s foreign exchange reserves.

Mannheimer Swartling advised ICA AB and ICA Finans AB in connection with a SEK 5 billion multicurrency revolving credit facility agreement entered into between the companies and a syndicate of Nordic banks. Zoran Stambolovski was responsible for the transaction, assisted by Gustav Nygren and Ludvig Frithiof.

Mannheimer Swartling has assisted Gjensidige Forsikring in connection with its acquisition of Länsförsäkringar International from Länsförsäkringar. Länsförsäkringar International provides casco and property insurance in Latvia and Lithuania. Gjensidige is market leading in property insurance in Norway. The company had approximately NOK 17 billion in premium revenue in 2008.

Mannheimer Swartling has assisted Cegedim S.A. in connection with its acquisition of the Nomi Group from Bisnode AB. The Nomi Group provides different data bases and CRM-tools to the Nordic pharmaceutical industry.